Method of making spring assemblages



Jan. 19, 1954 A. MORBERG METHOD OF MAKING SPRING ASSEMBLAGES 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Oct. 4, 1951 .INVENTOR. l. A. MORBERG ATTORNEY Jan. 19, 1954 1. A. MORBERG ,66

METHOD OF MAKING SPRING ASSEMBLAGES Filed Oct. 4, 1951 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 A. MORBERG BY ATTORNEY Jan. 19, 1954 I. A. MQRBERG METHOD OF MAKING SPRING ASSEMBLAGES .5 Slieets-. She et 5 Filed Oct. 4, 1951 INVENTOR: l. A. MOR BER G Y ATTORNEY Patented Jan. 19, 1954 METHOD OF MAKING SPRING ASSEMBLAGES Ivar A. Morberg, Chicago, Ill., assignor to Western Electric Company, Incorporated, New York, N. Y., a corporation of New York Application October 4, 1951, Serial No. 249,751

' 11 Claims. (01. 29 155.55

. 1' This invention relates to a method of making spring assemblages for switches in which a plurality of springs are mounted on an insulating card and more particularly to a method of slitting a strip of sheet metal stock into a plurality of. ribbons and simultaneously forming the" springs and attaching them onto the insulating cards.

In the telephone communication field a large number of switches are used having components of spring assemblages comprising a set of a predetermined number of contact springs mounted on insulating cards. Due to the difficulty in handling narrow strips of spring material in large coils, most of these assemblages of contact springs and cards are made up by punching individual springs from wide stock and putting the springs in magazines which will feed them to theinsulator cards to which they are then attached. Another method of making these spring assemblages is to successively punch the springs singly from a relatively wide strip of stock into a nest in a tray for receiving a definite number of springs in a predetermined spaced relation to each other and then advancing the tray to a station where an insulating card is positioned and then' attaching the springs thereto.

It is an object of the present invention to provide an eificient and effective method of making spring assemblages.

It is a further object of the invention simultaneously to form a plurality of springs from a strip and to attach them to a card.

In accordance with one embodiment of, the,

invention the method may be practiced by advancing a relatively Wide strip of stockpredeter mined uniform distances step by step through various stations in a punch press, successivelypunching, transverse rows of pilot apertures and clinching lugs in the strip at one station, punch shearing'successive portions of the strip into a predetermined number of narrow ribbons, looping the ribbons and spreading them apart in a predetermined horizontally spaced relation to each other, advancing the ribbons in timed relation to the advancement of the strip, feeding insulating cards in timed relation to the advancement of the strips from a magazine positioned adjacent the path of movement of the ribbons onto the ribbons, clinching the lugs formed on the ribbons about the cardsto secure successive portions of the ribbons onto successive cards, and punching sections from successive portions of the ribbons to sever completed assemblages of springs from the ribbons.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent by reference to the following detailed description thereof when considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings diagrammatically illustrating a preferred embodiment of the invention, in which Fig. l is a somewhat diagrammatic plan View of the mechanism for making spring assemblages and showing the strip from which the springs are i made in various stages of fabrication;

Figs. 2 and 2A are longitudinal sectional views taken on the lines 22 and 2A2A of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a cross-sectional view through the slitting punch' and die taken on the line 33 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken on the line 4-4 of Fig. 1 showing the ribbons in laterally spaced relation to each other; and

Fig. 5 is a view of the spring assemblage.

The assemblage H] of contact springs I2 made according to the method constituting the present invention is shown in' Fig. 5 and comprises six similar contact springs l2 disposed in parallel relation and attached to a card of insulating material 14. Each of the contact springs I2 has a pair of lugs l6 punched therein which engage in notches l8 disposed along the side edges of the rectangular insulator card l4 and are clinched into tightengagement with the top of the 'card to securely attach the springs l2 to the card.

The contact springs I2 are formed from a relatively wide, fiat'strip'of spring stock 29 (Fig. l) which is advanced intermittently through a plurality of stations and between sets of cooperating punch and dies in a punch press 2|. The strip 29 is advanced step by stepuniform distances by a pair of feed rolls 22 operated in synchronism with the actuation of the press. The distance of advance of the strip 20 is greater than the length of the springs l2. At the first station a plurality of punches 24 mounted for movement with the ram (not shown) of the punch press 2| cooperate with stationarydies 23 to perforate a transverse row of pilot apertures 28 in the strip 2t, and pairs of punches 30 actuated in timed relation with the movement oi the ram of the.

a) press cooperate with dies 32 to shear form two transverse rows of the clinching lugs 16. The lugs [6 after being shear formed are disposed substantially flush with the strip 28.

When the strip is advanced one step to the next station, a shearing die 42 movable with the ram of the press cooperates with a stationary die 44 to shear a longitudinal section of the strip equal to the length of forward movement thereof into a plurality of relatively narrow ribbons 46 which are the same width asthat of the contact springs [2. Spring pressed stripper plates 48 and 49 on the dies 42 and 44, respectively, serve to strip the ribbons 46 from the dies and return them to their Original position in substantial horizontal. align. ment upon completion of the shearing operation.

The waste side edge portions of the strip 29 (Fig. 1) may be disposed of in: anysuiitableiman ner. element 42 are engageable in the pilot holes 28 to accurately align the strip Zilrelative to. the dies 42 and 44.

A slight deformation is formed at a l (Fig; 1-) at the end of the slit portion of the strip 20 where the. ribbons: 4i; connect. to the. unslit portion of.

the. strip 2&1 The successive sections of. ribbons 46' sheared by the punch and dies 42: and 44- are flat and straight except for the slight deformations. 5:1. formed therein which are. located adjacent the pilot: apertures 28.

After having: been sheared, the ribbons 46- are. looped downwardly at 41 and upwardly to-permit spreading thereof without distortion, and enter guideways 55 in a stationary block. 516 for sup.- porting the ribbons in a horizontal plane and in predetermined laterally spaced relation to each other. The ribbons are. advanced in synchronism.

Pilot pins 53 mounted on the upper die d the lowermost insulating card into position above the ribbons 46 may be provided. The feed mechanism, diagrammatically indicated herein, includes an endless chain 13 which is mounted below the magazine 52 and has pusher elements M- thereon, which, as the chain is driven in timed relation with the actuation of the press, engage and remove the lowermost card M in the magazine and move it transversely of and over the ribbons 45. The card I4 is supported for movement after it leaves the magazine-i=2 on the upper surfaces of a plurality of holders or supporting members 15 mounted for vertical movement in the stationary die block 16 between adjacent ribbone and yieldably held in their normal upper position by springs '11. The pusher elements 14 are adapted to disengage the end of the card l4 as the card is moved into engagement with a stop" member l8 (Fig.1. 1) whereby the card will be supported on the holder '15 in a predetermined positionabovatheribbons 46 and with the notches with the feeding movement: of the: strip 20 by any suitable feed mechanism. As disclosed; herein the feed mechanism comprises an arm 58. extendingtransversely of and beneath. the ribbons, 46-. The arm 58 has a plurality of pins: 59 thereon for en:- gaging in the pilot apertures 28. The arm 5& is. adapted tobe reciprocated by mechanism (not shown) through a. predetermined stroke equal to the distance between adjacent-rowsof pilot aper tures 28 and in its rearward or left-hand position as shown in.Fig .2A, the arm 58 is moved upwardly to cause. the: pins 59' thereon, to enter the pilot apertures 28' after which the arm. 58 is moved forwardly to advance the ribbons one. step and then is moved downwardly to. disengage the. pins- 59' from the apertures 28', after which it is moved rearwardly', in timed relation to the operation of" the press.

A' double row of punches: 62-62; actuated in timed relation to the movement of. the ram co,- operates with dies 64' at the leftv of the feed arm. 58 as viewed in Figs. 1 and 2A to. engage. the previously sheared attaching lugs it which are dis posed in a substantially horizontal position and, bend them upwardly to a vertical position perpendicular to the ribbons (Fig. 2A). Rows of pilot pins 66, mounted for movement with the upper dies, engage in the pilot apertures 23 of the ribbons 4tv as they are advanced to accurately align. the ribbons relative to the punch and dies during the successive forming operations.

A stack of cards [4 of insulating material is supported in a magazine I2 adjacent the path. of travel of the ribbons 46 and the lowermost one of the stack of cards is adapted to be removed from the magazine and moved into a predeter' mined position above the ribbons 46' as indicated in Fig. 1. Any suitable mechanism for feeding 18 in the card in substantial vertical alignment with the lugs 16 on the ribbons 46.

Mechanism is provided for moving the card It down onto. the: ribbons and clinching the lugs It to, secure portions of each. of the ribbons 45 to the. card: IE4. Shown. somewhat. diagrammatically in Fig. 2A, the. mechanism. includes a transverse row of plungers which: are. slidably mounted for vertical movement with and relative to.- a row of blocks Or members 8|. and are. yiel'dably held in their normal lower position by springs 82. The blocks 81 in turn are. slidably mounted for move ment in a member 68 and have a pair of pivot: pins 84 extending therethrough on which. are pivotally mounted; pairs of clinching jaws 85 which are positioned above the ribbons 45. Theblocks 81 and the. jaws 85 are yi'el'd'ably held in their normaldown position relative tothe. mem ber 83 by spring pressed plungcrs 87 engaging the jaws 8.5. The oscillatable jaws 85 which are engaged bya spring pressed plunger 88', have in-- wardly directed portions to maintain the jaws in their normal openposition with shoulder portions. s0 thereof in engagement: with camsurfaces 91 formed on the member 83 Aligning pins 94 projecting downwardly from some of the movable plungers Silare adapted to engage in aligning apertures: 95in the card M to accurately align the card i4 horizontally so that the notches IS in the cards l4 are in vertical alignment with the lugs [6- on the ribbons 46; As: the ram of the press descen-ds, the die member 83 and the parts carried thereby are moved downwardly therewith to cause the aligning pins 94 on the plunger 80 to enter the aligning apertures 95 in the card M to align the card I4- in a predetermined horizontal position, and to cause the pilot pins Bil to enter the pilot apertures 23 in the ribbons 46 to effect the proper alignment ofthe ribbons. As the members 80 move down they engage the card l4 and move it downwardly with the spring pressed holders I 5 into engagement with the ribbons 46 and hold the card and ribbons against the lower stationary die it. At this point the lowerends of' the clinching jaws 85 are positioned behind the upstanding attaching lugs Ii; on the ribbons 46 and the downward movement of the plunger 8I1 is arrested. Continued movement of the member 83 will cause the cam surfaces 9! to oscillate the clinching jaws 85 about the pins 84 to bend the ends of the lugs 18 overand into engagement with the upper surface of: the card it. Upon completion of the inward movement of the jaws 8'5 and the clinching of the lugs It, the clinching jaws 85 willbe positioned above the lugs and the die member 83 will have moved downwardlyia predetermined distance relative to the members 8| andwill then engage the upper ends thereof and'impart a slight downward movement to the memberstl and the clinching jaws 85, which downward movement of jaws serves to press the ends of the clinching lugs ltrfirmly against the cards l4 to'tightly secure the ribbons 45 .tothe card My On the upward movement of the ram and the dies the clinching jaws and pilot pins are raised to provide clearance for the forward movement of the ribbons and the cards I 4 secured thereto.

At the following station a set of clipping punches 93 movable with the ram of the press cooperates with dies 96 to punch sections of scrap 98'from the ribbons and sever a complete spring assemblage In from the ribbons. Pilot pins 68 mounted in the'punch 5'3, engage in the apertu'res 28 toaccurately position the ribbons relativeto the punch 93. The scrap sections 98 punched from theri'bbonsAfi include the pilot perforations 28 'and deformations 5] in the ribbonsslfi. 'Ihus, in the. completed spring as semblages It the contact springs 12. are free of deformations therein and are securely attached to the insulator card M by the attaching lugs l6.

. Itis to be understood that the above-described arrangements are simplyillustrative of the application of the principles of this invention.

' Numerous other: arrangements maybe readily devised by those skilled in theart which will embody the principles of the invention and fall Withinv the spirit and scope thereof.

What is claimed is:

*1. A method of making, contact springassemblages having a plurality of contact springs mounted in spaced relation to each other on an insulator. card which consists in advancing a relatively wide strip of stock successively through predetermined uniform distances, punching successive transverse rows of attaching lugs in said strip, cutting successive portions of the strip into a predetermined number of ribbons, looping the ribbons and spreading them apart in a predetermined horizontally spaced relation to each other, advancing the ribbons in timed relation to the advancement of said strip, feeding insulatof said strip onto said ribbons and between said attaching lugs thereon, clinching the lugs formed on the ribbons about the cards to secure'portions of the ribbons onto said cards, and punching sections of saidribbons fromsaid ribbons at intervals. thereof to sever completed assemblages of springsfrom the ribbons.

-2.';A method of making contact spring assemblages having a plurality of contact springs mounted in spaced relation to each other on' an insulator card which consists'of advancing a relatively wide strip of metal stock step by step through predetermined uniform distances, punching transverse rows of attaching lugs in successive portions of said strip, punch shearing successive portions of the strip into a predetermined number of ribbons, looping the ribbons and spreading them apart in a predetermined horizontally spaced relation to each other, advancing the ribbons in timed relation to the advancement of said strip, feeding insulator cards onto successivo portions of said ribbons and between the attaching lugs thereon, clinchingthe lugs formed on the ribbons about the cards to secure portions of. the ri'bbons'onto said cards, and punching mg cards in timed relation to the advancement E completed' as'semblage's of springs from the ribbons. I 1

A method of making contact spring assemblages having a plurality of contact springs mounted in spaced relation to each other on an insulator card which consists of advancing a relatively wide strip of metal stock step by step through predetermined uniform distances, punching transverse rows of attaching lugs in successive portions of said strip, punch shearing successive portions of the strip into a predetermined number of ribbons, looping the ribbons and spreading them apart in a predetermined laterally spaced relation to each other, advancing theribbons in timed relation to the advancement of said strip, feeding insulator cards onto successive portions ofsaid ribbons and between the attaching lugs thereon, clinching the lugs formed on the ribbons about the cards to secure portions ofithe ribbons onto said cards, and punching sectionsof said ribbons from successive portionsof the ribbons to sever completed assemblages of springs from the ribbons. V

. 4. A method of making contact spring assemblages having a plurality of contact springs mounted in spaced relation to each other onan insulator card which consists of. advancing a relatively wide stripof metal stock successively through predetermined uniform distances longer than the contact springs, punching a transverse row. of pilot apertures in successive portions of said strip, punching and forming rows of upstanding attaching lugs in successive portions of said strip, punch shearing successive portions of the strip into a predetermined number of ribbons, looping the ribbons and spreading them'apart in a predetermined spaced apart relation to each other, advancing the ribbons in timed relation to the advancement of said strip, feeding an insulator card onto successive portions of said ribbons and s between said upstanding attaching lugs thereon, clinching the lugs formed on the ribbons about the cards to secure portions of the ribbons onto said cards, and punching sections of said ribbons therefrom between adjacent cards to sever completed assemblages of springs from the ribbons. I

.5. A method of making contact springassemblages having a plurality of contact springs mounted in spaced relation to each other on an insulator card which consists of intermittently advancing a relatively wide strip of stock uniform distances greater than the length of said springs to feed successive :portions of said strip into successive stations, punching transverse rows of attaching lugs in successive portions of said strip at oneofsaid stations, bending said rows of attaching lugs upwardly at one of said stations, punch shearing successive portions of the strip between-adjacent ones of the attaching lugs in said rows of lugs into a predetermined number of longitudinallyextending ribbons, looping the ribbons and spreading them apart in a predetermined horizontally spaced relation to each other, advancing the ribbons in timed relation to the advancement of said strip, feeding insulating cards at one of said stations onto successive portions of said ribbons and between said attaching lugs thereon, clinching the lugs formed on the ribbons about the cards at one of said stations to secure successive portions of the ribbons onto successive ones of said cards, and punching sections of said ribbons from successive portions of said ribbons at one of saidstations to sever com? pleted assemblages of springs from the ribbons.

6., A method of making contact spring assemblages having a plurality of contact springs mounted in spaced relation to each other on an insulator card which consists ofv intermittently advancinga relatively wide strip of metal uniform distances greater than the length of said springs to feed successive portions of said strip into successive stations, punching at one of said stations a transverse row of pilot apertures in successive portions thereof, punching transverse rows of attaching lugs in successive portions of said strip at one of said stations, bending said rowswof attaching lugs upwardly at one of said stations, punch shearin successive portions of the strip. between the adjacent. pilot holes and adjacent attaching lugs into a predetermined number of longitudinally extending ribbons, loop ing the ribbons and spreadingthem apart between a pair of stations in a predetermined laterally spaced relation to each other, advancing the ribbons in timed relation to the advancement of said strip, feeding insulator cards at one of said stations onto successive portions of said rib- Icons. and between the attaching lugs thereon, clinching the. lugs formed on the ribbons about the cards at one of said stations to secure successive portions of the ribbons onto successive ones, of said cards, punching sections of said ribbons from successive portions of said ribbons at one of said stations to sever completed assemblages of springs from the ribbons, and aligni-ng; said pilot apertures at said stations to align successive portions: of said strip and said ribbons in predetermined aligned relationship relative to said stations.

7. A method of making contact spring assemblages. having a plurality of contact springs mounted in spaced relation to each other on an insulator card which consists of advancing a relatively wide strip of metal stock step by step through predetermined uniform distances, punch-ingtransverse rows of attaching lugs in successive portions of said strip, cutting successive portions of the strip into a predetermined number of ribbons, spreading the ribbons apart in a predetermined horizontally spaced relation to each other, advancing the ribbons in timed relation to the advancement of said strip, feeding insulator cards onto successive portions of said ribbons and between the attaching lugs thereon, clinching the lugs formed on the ribbons about the cards to secure portions of the ribbons onto said cards, and punching completed assemblages of springs from the ribbons.

8. A method of making contact spring assemblages having a plurality of contact springs mounted in spaced relation to each other on an insulator card which consists of advancing a. relatively wide strip of metal stock step by. step through predetermined uniform distances, punching transverse rows of attaching lugs in successive portions of said strip, punch shearing successive portions of the strip into a predetermined number of ribbons, guiding the ribbons to predetermined spaced positions to distribute them over an appreciably larger space than the width of the original strip, advancing the ribbons in timed relation to the advancement of said strip, feeding insulator cards onto successive portions of said ribbons and between the attaching lugs thereon, clinching the lugs, formed on. the. ribbons about. the. cards. to secure portions of the. ri bons onto. Said cards, and punching sec.- tions. of said ribbons from successive. portions; of.

the ribbons to sever completed assemblages of springs. from the ribbons.

9. A method of making contact spring assemblages having a plurality of contact springs mounted in spaced relation to each other on an insulator card which consists of advancing a relatively wide strip of metal stock successively through predetermined uniform distances longer than the contact springs, punching a transverse row of pilot apertures in successive portions of said strip, punching and forming rows of upstanding attaching lugs in successive portions of said strip, cutting successive portions of the strip into a predetermined number of ribbons, guiding the ribbons to predetermined spaced positions to distribute them over an appreciably larger space than the width of the original strip, advancing the ribbons in timed relation to the advancement of said strip, feeding an insulator card onto suce cessive portions oi said ribbons and between said upstanding attaching lugs thereon, clinching the lugs formed on the ribbons about the cards to secure portions. of the ribbons onto said cards, and punching sections of said ribbons therefrom between adjacent cards to sever completed assemblages of springs from the ribbons.

it). A method of making contact spring assemblages having a plurality of contactv springs mounted in spaced relation to each other on an insulator card which consists of intermittently advancing av relatively wide. strip of stock uniform distances greater than the length of said springs to feed successive portions of said strip into successive stations, punching transverse rows of attaching lugs in successive portions. of said strip at one of said stations, bending said rows of attaching lugs upwardly at one of said stations, cutting successive portions of, the strip between adjacent ones of the attaching lugs in said rows of lugs into a predetermined number or" longitudinally extending ribbons, spreading the ribbons apart in a predetermined horizontally spaced relation to, each other, advancing the ribbon in timed relation to the advancement of said strip, feeding insulating cards at. one of said stations onto successive portions of said ribbons and between said attaching lugs thereon, clinching the. lugs formed on the. ribbons about the cards at one of. said stations to secure successive portions of the ribbons onto successive ones of said cards, and punching sections of said ribbons from successive portions of said ribbons at one of said stations to sever completed assemblages of springs from the ribbons.

ll. A method of making contact spring assemblages having a plurality of contact springs mounted in spaced relation to. each other on an insulator card which consists of intermittently advancinga, relatively wide strip of metal-uniform; distances: greater than the length ofsaid springs to, feed successive portions of said strip into successive stations, punching at oneoiv said stations a transverse row of pilot apertures in successive portions thereof, punching transverse rows of attaching lugs in successive portion of said strip at one of said stations, bending said rows of attaching lugs upwardly at one of said stations, cutting successive portions of the strip between the adjacent pilot holes and adjacent attaching lugs into; a predetermined number of longitudinally extending ribbons, guiding the ribbone to predetermined spaced positions to distribute. them overan appreciably larger space than the width of the original strip, advancing the ribbons in timed relation to the advancement of said strip, feeding insulator cards at one of said stations onto successive portions of said ribbons and between the attaching lugs thereon,

clinching the lugs formed on the ribbons about the cards at one of said stations to secure successive portions of the ribbons onto successive ones of said cards, punching sections of said ribbons from successive portions of said ribbons at one of said stations to sever completed assemblages of springs irom the ribbons, and aligning said pilot apertures at said stations to align successive portions of said strip and said ribbons in predetermined aligned relationship relative to said stations.

IVAR A. MORBERG.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date Miles Nov. 3, Reynolds Dec. 10, Yoder June 4, Pearce Apr. 10, Roemer June 4, Hennessey Dec. 19, Lilley Mar. 4, Locke Sept. 16, 

